Batala man repents why he let son go

Television reports about the killing of 39 Indians in Iraq have terrified the family of Dharminder Kumar of Talwandi Churian village in Batala police jurisdiction. He is among these missing youths who were reported to have been taken hostage.

Television reports about the killing of 39 Indians in Iraq have terrified the family of Dharminder Kumar of Talwandi Churian village in Batala police jurisdiction. He is among these missing youths who were reported to have been taken hostage.

Catching updates on television, the family wonders why the government is hiding information. “We don’t trust the two Bangladeshis on television or Harjit Masih, who claim the youths were killed. The government has assured us regularly that they are alive and safe. We trust the government,” said Kamaljeet, mother of Dharminder Kumar.

The family hasn’t eaten well in five months. June 14 was when Dharminder last called home to tell mother that he had been taken captive. There wasn’t another call. “We had taken a loan of `1.5 lakh to send Dharminder to Iraq, where he joined as construction worker in Mosul,” said Dharminder’s father, Raj Kumar, now repenting why he let him go. “Why can’t the government provide us with jobs here?” he said.

Dharminder’s sister, Dimplejeet, made numerous visits to the state and union government offices for his safe return. She expects him to be back.